Joe Launchbury nominated for England's Player of the Year
By Drunken Wasps
April 12 2017
Joe Launchbury has been nominated alongside Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes for England's Player of the Year award, with the winner announced at the RPA Players’ Awards in association with England Rugby, on Wednesday, May 10 at Battersea Evolution, London.
The trio played key roles in a November series clean sweep while also helping England retain the Six Nations earlier this year.
On news of the nomination, Joe Launchbury said "It’s a special feeling to be nominated by your peers and I have really enjoyed being part of the team this year.
"We’ve had a very successful 12 months and it’s a privilege to play with such talented players."
Farrell had a poor game against Italy (not just place kicking). And Lawes I think is getting a lot of praise for doing noticeable stuff, but I don't think he went so well in the more unseen areas.
His play was fantastic in all the matches and I suppose they had to include others in the listing, but his has been a stand out performance throughout.
Our skipper has just been class personified. I hope he wins as he really deserves to, not that he'd agree, and that is the stamp of the man. Unbelievably selfless and team orientated.
Launchbury all day long, he deserves to be the next England captain after Dylan steps own. Farrell? I can't think of one game where he stood out head and shoulders above everyone else like Launchbury has consistently. His 'performance' against Italy was the worst from an England player under Jones and yet hardly a word about it in the media. Take away his occasional hot kicking streak (his kicking was nothing special in the 6N) and he is an average player surrounded by hype.
No idea about what makes a good captain. Not much more of an idea about the technical aspects of good play and performance. Don't think there is any need to knock the other players that have been nominated, they are all great players.
Launchbury is clearly a leader and role model, the way he gets his big frame from one ruck to the next, putting his once broken neck on the line for the whole game is outstanding, sometimes he seems to be involved in more rucks than the scrum half! It's great that he has been nominated and it would be even better to see him win.
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